Efficient expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene in vitro and in vivo, using an adeno-associated virus vector.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has proven to be one of the most effective growth factors for therapeutic angiogenesis. The biological efficacy of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector has recently been demonstrated in muscle tissues, including the heart. Apart from these promising insights into VEGF and the AAV vector, studies on VEGF gene transfer using the AAV vector have been limited. Here, we evaluate AAV-mediated VEGF gene transfer, both in vitro and in vivo, using the AAV-mVEGF vector that contains cDNA for murine VEGF(120) within an HCMV-driven expression cassette. Transient transfection of AAV-mVEGF plasmid significantly increased mVEGF expression in 293T cells. The secreted VEGF in the conditioned medium had strong biological activity, as confirmed by the Miles' vascular permeability assay. Transduction of 293T and HeLa cells with AAV-mVEGF stock of high titer, that is essentially adenovirus-free, showed significantly increased mVEGF expression above that of AAV-eGFP-transduced cells. When human umbilical vein endothelial cells were transduced, a higher level of mVEGF expression, together with higher cell counts, was observed compared to AAV-eGFP-transduced cells. In vivo transduction of mouse tibialis anterior muscle resulted in an increased level of mVEGF expression, and higher capillary-to-myofibre ratio, 8 weeks post-transduction. In a rat hindlimb ischemia model, regional blood flow, as well as the capillary-to-myofibre ratio, was significantly increased at 4 weeks post-transduction. These findings demonstrate the efficient delivery of the VEGF gene using an AAV vector, which has implications for angiogenic gene therapy in ischemic diseases.

Byun J ，Heard JM ，Huh JE ，Park SJ ，Jung EA ，Jeong JO ，Gwon HC ，Kim DK ... -  《JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY》

Adeno-associated viral vector-mediated vascular endothelial growth factor gene transfer induces neovascular formation in ischemic heart.

Su H ，Lu R ，Kan YW 《-》

Therapeutic angiogenesis for ischemic syndromes.

Weisz A ，Koren B ，Fischer L ，Lewis BS ，Flugelman MY ... -  《ISRAEL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL》

Adeno-associated virus vectors simultaneously encoding VEGF and angiopoietin-1 enhances neovascularization in ischemic rabbit hind-limbs.

Chen F ，Tan Z ，Dong CY ，Chen X ，Guo SF ... -  《ACTA PHARMACOLOGICA SINICA》

In vitro and in vivo study of the expression vector encoding vascular endothelial growth factor.

Malecki M ，Przybyszewska M ，Janik P 《ARCHIVUM IMMUNOLOGIAE ET THERAPIAE EXPERIMENTALIS》